By Andrea Hargraves 
According to the order of the Directorate General of Health (DGS), the maximum occupancy capacity of sports grounds has been increased from 33% to 50%. The interpretation of this decision is based on new data from the epidemic in recent weeks, including the excellent vaccination rate in Portugal.
However, the DGD maintains reservations and care to be taken in all forms of presence related to events of this nature.
As per directive 009/2021 “the proportion of the audience in single-seater seating is 50% excluding the front row” next to the sports area. At the same time, the «occupation of seats shall be so between spectators, that the occupied seats are not identical in each row».
The Directorate-General of Democracy continues to advise against any contact between spectators and other participants in a sporting event, and also recommended that uninhabited places should have “signs prohibiting their occupancy” by the public in stadiums and pavilions, in addition to the mandatory use of masks within these spaces. .
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has confirmed that the DGS guidelines will be followed “with immediate effect” in the competitions it organizes.